Role of BRCA1 in Neuronal Death in Alzheimer’s Disease

Oxidative damage of DNA has recently been indicated as one of the strong pathogenic agent in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Oxidative stress induces numerous signaling pathways, including DNA damage response (DDR), associated with the breast cancer type 1 susceptibility protein (BRCA1) protein, known to date from numerous reports in the cancer field. In this Viewpoint, we discuss the latest discoveries related to the role of BRCA1 in the death of neurons in AD. We underline the role of BRCA1 in the development of neurons and speculate on the consequences of BRCA1 dysfunction in the dying brain. In general, this Viewpoint is in a line with several recent reports on the processes and players common at the molecular and genetic level for neurodegenerative and cancerous diseases.